Condiment shaker



June 15, 1937. E, wATgoN 2,083,624

CONDIMENT SHAKE P.

Filed Nov. 28, .1934

INVENTOR.

BY [fr/7232 l Vafsan.

ATTORNEY.

Patented June 15, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONDIMENT SHAKERErnest Watson, Wauwatosa, Wis.

Application November 28, 1934, Serial No. 755,086

5 Claims.

This invention relates to condiment shakers and particularly toanti-clogging attachments therefor.

An object of the present invention is to provide in a condiment shaker asimple inexpensive device which will discourage clogging and which maybe operated to effectually remove any obstruction that may occur Withinthe discharge end of the shaker.

Another object is to provide a device of the character mentioned whichmay be readily applied and effectively used without modification to anyof the various forms of condiment shakers now in use.

Other more specific objects and advantages will appear, expressed orimplied, from the following description of an illustrative embodiment ofthis invention.

The single figure of the accompanying drawing is a sectional view of aconventional condiment shaker equipped with an anti-clogging attachmentconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

For purposes of illustration and explanation an embodiment of theinvention is shown and will be described as applied to the perforatedcap it of a condiment shaker ll, although it is equally applicablewithout change to other types of condiment shakers wherein theperforated discharge end constitutes an integral part of the container.

The anti-clogging device shown comprises a rather stiff brush having amultiplicity of rela-. tively long inverted bristles l2, preferably ofwire, which project upwardly from the lower end of an appropriate steml3 suspended within the discharge end of the shaker II. The stem [3projects loosely through a central perforation I4 in the cap l0 and isequipped at its exposed upper end with suitable manipulating means, suchas a loop-l5, which coacts with the cap Ill to support the stem andbrush.

In this instance the stem i3 is formed of wire strands twisted one uponthe other and upon the bristles I2 previously inserted therebetween. The

' bristles, thus anchored to the stem, are ultimately bent upwardlyalong and about the stem 13 to form the brush, the ends being trimmed soas to properly engage the interior of the cap ID, as indicated. Thedevice is applied to the cap merely by projecting the stem I13 andbristles l2 downwardly through the perforation [4 until the bristlesclear the perforation, whereupon they spring apart into the positionsshown and prevent withdrawal of the device from the cap.

It has been found that a brush constructed and mounted in the mannerdescribed does not interfere with the normal flow of the contents of theshaker to and through the perforated cap, but on the contrary thevibratory action of the bristles during the shaking process tends tokeep the contents of the shaker in a loose flowable condition.Furthermore by manipulation of the loop IS the brush may be rotatedabout its central longitudinal axis in a manner to thoroughly clean theinner surface of the cap and particularly those areas in and about theperforations thereof, to thereby clear all obstructions and eliminateclogging.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the inventionhereinabove specifically described without departing from or sacrificingthe advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:-

1. The combination with a condiment shaker having a perforated dischargeportion, of an inverted brush mounted in aid portion for rotation andoscillation about a substantially central vertical axis of saiddischarge portion and having bristles extending upwardly for contactwith said portion.

2. The combination with a condiment shakerhaving a perforated dischargeportion, of an inverted rotatable brush. loosely suspended in saidportion and having an operating stem extending upwardly through thelatter and also having bristles extending upwardly for contact with thelatter.

. 3. The combination with a condiment shaker having a perforateddischarge portion, of an anticlogging wire brush mounted in saidportion, said brush comprising a stern rotatably supported at one end insaid portion and depending therefrom, and a multiplicity of bristlesattached to the other end of said stem and. extending upwardly forcontact with the internal surfaces of said portion.

4. An anti-clogging device for condiment shakers having a perforateddischarge portion, said device comprising a brush having a stem, and amultiplicity of longitudinal bristles extending along and about saidstem, said stem having a portion extended in the same general directionas the individual bristles from the point of connection therewith beyondthe free ends of the latter for mounting in the perforated dischargeportion of the shaker.

5. An anti-clogging device for condiment shakers having a perforateddischarge portion, said device comprising a brush having a twisted wirestem, and a multiplicity of longitudinal Wire bristles fixed to one endof said stem, said stem extending in the same general direction as theindividual bristles from the point of connection therewith between andbeyond the free ends of the latter to provide a portion for mounting inthe perforated discharge portion of the shaker.

ERNEST WATSON.

